Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 21

Author: McDonough, J.L., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.L. McDonough & Co
Number of Pages: 578


USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 21
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 21
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 21


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Pinckneyville precinct received numerous aecessions in 1826. Among the number were Ephraim Bilderback and Charles Garner, who came from Randolph county and settled in the southwestern portion of the Four-mile prairie, in the spring of that year. Matthew Jones settled on the west side of Holt's Prairie in 1826. John Hazzard and John Berry came with Jones and made themselves houses in the same prairie. All were natives of Tennessee. Ahner Flack, a native of South Carolina, took up his abode in the Four-mile prairie the same year; and George Franklin made his house, one-half mile south of the present site of Pinckneyville at the same time. The year 1827, brought with it some of the pioneers, whose names are interwoven inseparably with the early political history of the county. Chief among the number was Ilumphrey B. Jones. Mr. Jones was a native of Kentucky and first came to Jackson county, Illinois, in 1821. There he continued to reside until the twenty-first day of April, 1827, when he changed his residence to the new county of Perry. His first house was in Pinckneyville, near the site of the "old spring." Among his surviving children is the wife of Charles II. Roc, the efficient Circuit Clerk of the county. Mr. Jones held many of the official positions in the county, as will be seen by a reference to the civil chapter. He was a scholarly gentleman, an able lawyer and successful physician. IIe died at his home in Pinckneyville, his aged wife following but a few years since. Fergus Milligan, another of the more prominent carly settlers, first came to the county in 1827. He was a native of Iredell county, North Carolina, and arrived in the spring, first settling the land now known as the Harmony place, three miles northwest of Pinckney-


ville. When he came to the county, his family consisted of a wife and nine children. Not being satisfied with the selection first made, in the fall of the same year, he removed to Four-mile prairie, and sekceted a house on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section eleven, township six south, of range three, and there died some years since. Afton Crawford settled in the south end of the Four-mile prairie, in 1827, and improved what is now known as the "old Bill Murphy " place. Jonathan Petit, from Randolph county, improved what is now the county poor farm, as early as 1827.


The population of Tamaroa precinet was largely increased in 1828. Nathan G. Curlee, one of the pioneer local preachers, found a home on section seventeen of township four, range one. The first neighbor of Mr. Curlee was Benjamin Hammack, who brought his family, and selected a portion of section seventeen, township four, range one, as his home. Mr. Hammack was a native of Virginia, but came to Perry from Jackson county. His family consisted of a wife and four children. Lewis Hammack, a prominent lawyer of Pinckneyville, is a son. Immediately following Mr. Hammack came Stephen Brown, who settled on the same section.


Paradise precinct received as pioneers in 1828, Edward, Minyard and Robert Gilliam, brothers, with their families from Bradford county, Tennessee. The prairie in which they settled now bears their name. The two first named died in the precinet and Robert in Texas. James Jones, a brother of William Jones who first came into the township in 1827, and bought the claim of a settler named Alexander Clark, arrived from Tennessee with a wife and family of several children in 1828. With James Jones came an old Tennessee neighbor, by the name of John M. Haggard, who came along to see the country. Being well pleased he immediately returned to his old home and brought out his family-a wife and child. To the little settlement of Grand Cote was added in 1828, James Kirkpatrick and family of South Carolina, who made their home on section nine. Among the number of pioneers of 1828, settling in Pinck- neyville, were James Steele, who settled in the Four-mile prairie; and William Craig who found a home in the immediate vicinity. Joshua M Rice, a native of Tennessee arrived in 1829, and settled in Hutchings' prairie, where he raised one crop; and changed his home to township four the following year. Peyton Brown was also a settler in the immediate neighborhood the same year. Among the numerous accessions to the county from the years 1829 to 1838 inclusive, were Reuben Kelly and Isaac McCollum, of Paradise ; the Blauds of Tamaroa ; John White, Robert II. Allen, William M. Adair, Hugh Cooper, Alexander Craig, William Rainey, Benjamin Ragland, Solomon Maxwell, John McMillen, John Hughey, Newton Franklin anl Joel Rushing, all in Grand Cote. The last named, Joel Rushing, was a native of Anson County, North Carolina, and while a mere hoy was taken to Bedford County, Ten- nessee. Here he grew to manhood, found a wife in the person of Miss Susannah Hale, and came to Perry County in December, 1838; and bought one hundred and twenty


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


acres of land from James McMillan's father. Evau B. Rushing, one of the leading lawyers of the Perry county bar, is a son of this pioneer. Jeremiah Dennis, Jacob Walker, Campbell Stuart, James Meadows and Edmund Hodges sought homes in Beaucoup precinct during this period. Among the earliest pioneers who attained deserved political prominence was Hawkins S. Osburn, who ably represented his people in the General Assembly of the state, both iu the House aud Senate. He was a lover of fine horses, accumulated a handsome property and died a few years ago at a ripe old age. His son, Thomas Osburn, now lives upon the old homestead, and is said to be a counterpart of his honored father.


We have thus briefly sketched the early pioneer history of the county ; and the reader desirous of obtaining a more extended history of those named in this chapter, or whose names do not appear, will find what they seek in the several precinct histories.


MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE AMERICAN PIONEERS.


The early American settlers were principally from the Southeru States of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Some came from Pennsylvania and Maryland. A New England emigrant was rare. Their sense of independence was one of the marked traits of their character. By the necessities of their situation they were forced into singular and different employments. They were compelled to act as mechanics, to make their plows, harness and other farming implements, to tan their leather, to hunt game, while at the signal of dauger they unhitched their horses from the plow, and were ready to march to any part of the territory in defence of their homes.


While the majority of settlers were without means, pov- erty carried with it no crushing sense of degradation like that felt by the very poor of our day. They lived, it is true, in a cabin, but it was their own, and had been reared by their own hands. Their house, too, while inconvenient and far from water-proof, was built in the prevailing style of architecture, and would compare favorably with the homes of their neighbors. They were destitute of many of the conveniences of life, and of some things that are now considered necessaries ; but they patiently endured their lot and hopefully looked forward to better. They had plenty to wear as protection against the weather, and an abundance of wholesome food. They sat down to a rude table to eat from tin or pewter dishes; but the meat thereon spread- the flesh of the deer or bear; of the wild duck or turkey ; of the quail or squirrel-was superior to that we eat, and had been won by the skill of the head of the house or of that of his vigorous sons. The bread they ate was made from corn or wheat of their own raising. They walked the green carpet of the grand prairie or forest that surrounded them, not with the air of a beggar, but with the elastic step of a self-respected freeman.


The settler brought with him the keen axe, which was indispensable, and the equally necessary rifle; the first his weapon of offence against the forests that skirted the water- courses, and near which he made his home ; the second that


of defence from the attacks of his foe, the cunning child of the forest and prairie.


The manner of building was as follows: First, large logs were laid in position as sills; on these were placed strong sleepers, and on the sleepers were laid the rough-hewed puncheons, which were to serve as floors. The logs were then built up till the proper height for the eaves was reached ; theu on the ends of the building were placed poles, longer than the other end-logs, which projected some eighteen or more inches over the sides, and were called "butting-pole sleepers;" on the projecting ends of these was placed the " butting-pole," which served to give the line to the first row of clap-boards. These were, as a matter of course, split, and as the gables of the cabin were built up, were so laid on as to lap a third of their length. They were often kept in place by the weight of a heavy pole, which was laid across the roof parallel to the ridge- pole. The house was then chinked, and daubed with a coarse mortar.


A huge fire-place was built at one end of the house, in which fire was kindled for cooking purposes, for the settlers were generally without stoves, with which to furnish the needed warmth iu winter. The ceiling above was some- times covered with the pelts of the raccoon, opossum, and of the wolf, to add to the warmth of the dwelling. Some- times the soft inner bark of the bass wood was used for the same purpose. The cabin was lighted by means of greased paper-windows. A log would be left out along one side, and sheets of strong paper, well greased with coon-grezse or bear oil, would be carefully tacked in.


The above description only applies to the very carliest times, before the rattle of the saw-mill was heard within our borders.


The furniture comported admirably with the house itself, aud hence, if not elegant, was in most perfect taste. The tables had four legs, and were rudely made from a puncheou. Their seats were stools having three or four legs. The bed- stead was in keeping with the rest, aud was often so contrived as to permit it to be drawn up and fastened to the wall during the day, thus affording more room to the family. The entire furniture was simple, and was framed with no other tools thau an axe and auger. Each was his own carpenter; and some displayed considerable ingenuity in the construction of implements of agriculture, and utensils, and furniture for the kitchen and house. Knives and forks they sometimes had, and sometimes had not The common tahle knife was the pack knife or butcher-knife. Horse collars were sometimes made of the plaited husk of the maize sewed togetlier. They were easy on the neck of the horse, and if tug-traces were used, would last a long while.


The common dress of the American pioneer was very similar. Home-made wool hats were usually worn. The covering of the feet were, in winter, mostly moccasins made of deer skin and shoe-packs of tauned leather. In the summer, the greater portion of the young people, male and female, and many of the old, went bare-footed. The sub- stantial and universal wear was the blue linsey hunting-


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


shirt. Gov. Reynolds says that this was a most excellent garment, and that he never felt so healthy and happy after laying it off. Many pioneers wore the white blanket coat (the French capot) in the winter. These were made loose with a cap or cape to turn over the head in extreme cold weather. The vest was mostly made of striped linsey. The colors were made with alum, copperas and madder, boiled with the bark of trees in such manner and proportions as the old ladies prescribed. The shirts worn by the Americans were generally home made, of flax and cotton material. Some voyagers and hunters among the Americans wore calico and checked shirts, but these were not in common use. The pantaloons of the masses were generally deer- skins and linsey, and sometimes a coarse blue cloth was used. In early times factory made goods did not exist. These goods, from New England and Kentucky, reached Illinois about the year 1818, and then looms and spinning ceased. Every pioneer had a rifle and carried it almost wherever he went. On the Sabbath a stack of rifles might be seen outside the house of worship while within the congregation were attending service. Almost everybody was a hunter, and a deer was as likely to be seen on Sunday as on any other day of the week. Neat and fine linsey, manufactured at home and colored and woven to suit the fancy, composed the outside garments of the females. A bonnet of calico or some gayly-checked goods, was worn on the head. in the open air. Jewelry was unusual. A gold ring was an ornament not often seen.


The style of dress began to change about the year 1820. The blue linsey hunting-shirt with red or white fringe gave place to the cloth coat. Boots and shoes supplanted the deer skin moccasin. By the year 1830 a man dressed in the costume of the territory, raccoon-skin cap, hunting- shirt, buckskin breeches and moccasins, with a belt around the waist to which a knife and tomahawk were appended, was rarely to be seen. The female sex made still more rapid progress iu adopting modern costumes.


The pioneers were exceedingly friendly and sociable. A new-comer was heartily welcomed. When a log cabin was to be raised, whether invited or not, they gathered together and enjoyed a backwoods frolic in putting it up. At these house-raisings much sport and amusement were indulged in. The young men and boys tried their strength and skill at jumping, wrestling, and running foot-races. Old and young took part in the game of leap frog. Shooting at marks was practiced among those most skilled in the use of the rifle. Among a group of older men would figure a Kentuckian relating his adventures on flat-boats, " the old Broad . Horn," to New Orleans. At times, a bottle, called " Black Betty," filled with Monongahela whiskey, made its appearance, and then was told the " hair-breadth escapes" and thrilling adventures of the pioneers. A log-rolling, corn husking, or bec of any kind, called the settlers together for miles around. The whole neighborhood assembled and split rails, cleared land, plowed up whole fields, and the like. Pioneer amuse- ment generally closed the day. With the invitation to the men commonly eame one to the women, to come to a quilting. The good woman of the house where the festivities were to


take place, would be busily engaged for a day or more in preparation for the coming guests. Great quantities of provisions were to be prepared, for dyspepsia was unknown to the pioneer, and good appetites were the rule and not the exception.


" The bread used at these frolics was baked generally on Jonny or Journey cake-boards, and is the best corn-bread ever made. A board is made smooth, about two feet long, and eight inches wide-the ends are generally rounded. The dough is spread out on this board, and placed leaning before the fire. One side is baked, and then the dongh is changed on the board, so the other side is presented, in its turn, to the fire. This is Jonny-cake, and is good, if the proper materials are put in the dough, and it is properly baked."- Reynolds' Pioneer History.


At all log.rollings and house raisings it was customary to provide liquor. Excesses were not indulged in, however. The fiddler was never forgotten. After the day's work had been accomplished, out doors and in, by men and women, the floor was cleared and the merry dance began. The handsome, stalwart young men, whose fine forms were the result of their manly out door life, clad in fringed buckskin breeches and gaudily colored hunting-shirts, led forth the bright-eyed, buxom damsels, attired in neatly-fitting- linsey- woolsey garments, to the dance, their cheeks glowing with health and eyes speaking of enjoyment, and perhaps a tenderer emotion.


The following description of a "Shucking " of the olden time is taken from Reynolds' Pioneer History of Illinois :


"In pure pioneer times the crops of corn were never husked on the stalk, as is done at this day ; but were hauled home in the husk and thrown in a heap, generally by the side of the crib, so that the ears, when husked, could be thrown direct into the crib. The whole neighborhood, male and female, were invited to the shucking, as it was called. The girls, and many of the married ladies, generally engaged in this amusing work.


"In the first place two leading expert huskers were chosen as captains, and the heap of corn divided as nearly equal as possible. Rails were laid across the pile so as to designate the division ; and then each captain chose, alter- nately, his corps of huskers, male and female. The whole number of working hands present were selected, on one side or the other, and then each party commenced a contest to beat the other, which was in many cases truly exciting. One other rule was, that whenever a male husked a red ear of corn, he was entitled to a ki's from the girls This frequently excited much fuss and scuffling, which was intended by both parties to end in a kiss. It was a universal practice that taffia or Monongahela whiskey was used at these husking frolics, which they drank out of a bottle, each one, male and female, taking the bottle and drinking out of it, and then handing it to his next neighbor, without using any glass or cup whatever. This custom was common, and not considered rude. Almost always these corn-shucks ended in a dance. To prepare for this amuse- ment fiddles and fiddlers were in great demand; and it often required much fast riding to obtain them, One violin


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


and a performer were all that was contemplated at these innocent rural games.


" Towards dark, and the supper half over, then it was that a hustle and confusion commenced. The confusion of tongues at Babel would have been ashamed at the corn-huskings. The young ones hurrying off the table, and the old ones contending for time and order. It was the case, nine times out of ten, that but one dwelling-house was on the premises, and that was used for cating as well as dancing.


"But when the fiddler commenced tuning his instrument, the music always gained the victory for the young side. Then the dishes, victuals, table and all, disappeared in a few minutes, and the room was cleared, the dogs driven out, and the floor swept off ready for action. The floors of these houses were sometimes the natural earth, beat solid, some- times the earth, with puncheons in the middle over the po- tato-hole, and at times the whole floor was made of puu- cheons.


" The music at these country dances made the young folks almost frantic, and sometimes much excitement was dis- played to get on the floor first. Generally the fiddler on these occasions assumed an important bearing, and ordered, in true professional style, so and so to be done; as that was the way in North Carolina, where he was raised. The de- cision ended the contest for the floor. In those days they danced jigs and four-handed reels, as they were called. Sometimes three-handed reels were also danced.


" In these dances there was no standing still ; all were moving at a rapid pace from the beginning to the end. In the jigs the by-standers cut one another out, as it was called, so that this dance would last for hours. Sometimes the par- ties in a jig tried to tire one another down in the dance, and then it would also last a long time before one or the other gave up.


" The cotillion or stand-still dances were not then known.


"The hottle went around at these parties as it did at the shuckings, and male and female took a dram out of it as it passed round No sitting was indulged in, aud the folks either stood or danced all night, as generally daylight ended the frolic. The dress of these hardy pioneers was generally in plain homespun. The hunting-shirt was much worn at that time, which is a convenient working or dancing dress. Sometimes dressed deer skin pantaloons were used on these occasions, and mawkawsins-rarely shoes-and at times bare feet were indulged in.


" In the morning all go home on horseback or on foot. No carriages, wagons or other vehicles were used on these occasions, for the best of reasons-because they had none."


Reynolds states it as his sincere conviction that the early pioneers of Illinois were more moral and free from crime than the people of a later day. Thefts were of rare occur- rence, and forgery, perjury, and similar crimes were seldom perpetrated. A white man was hung for murder in Kas- kaskia in the year 1802, and an Indian in Is04; no further instance of capital puni-hment iu Illinois occurs till 1821, when Bennett was hung at Belleville for the murder of Stu- art. In the early history of the county, the courts were in session four times each year at Cahokia, but the graud ju-


ries frequently adjourned without finding a single indict- ment. While the higher crimes were of rare occurrence, the lesser violations of law were not unfrequeut.


The use of intoxicating liquors was indulged in then more than now. Drinking was fashionable and polite, and liquor was considered an element in the conviviality of all circles. The French seldom carried the use of liquor to excess, In- temperance, on the part of the Americans, was greatest in the village of Cahokia and there, as also at Kaskaskia, many good citizens were injured by the excessive use of ardent spirits.


The Sabbath, among the American pioneers, was often employed in hunting, fishing, getting up stock, hunting bees, breaking young horses, shooting at marks, and horse and foot-racing It was, however, a custom to cease from ordinary labor, except from necessity, on that day, and when a far- mer cut his harvest on Sunday, public opinion condemned it more severely than at present. There was no dancing, and but little drinking. In many localities there were no reli- gious meetings. The aged people generally remained at home and read the Bible and other books. The French ob- served Sunday in a different manner. After the conclusion of their religious servicez, the rest of the day was passed in amusements, merriment and recreation. Dancing was com- mon on the Sabbath, and frequently houses were raised and the militia trained. Public sales of land and other property were held, in early times, by the French at the church door on Sundays, after the close of the service. The French rarely engaged in common broils and disturbances. They detested a quarrelsome, fighting man. With the Ameri- cans personal combats were frequent. A slight dispute led to a fight ; but the combatants often good-humoredly made it up before parting. These combats scarcely ever occurred unless the parties had been drinking. No rules were ob- served. At times eyes and ears were much injured, and were sometimes destroyed.


All species of gaming were common. Card-playing was sustained by the best classes. A person who could not, or would not, play cards, was considered destitute of one of the accomplishments of genteel society. The French delighted much in this amusement, and thus assisted in giving card- parties more standing and popularity among the Americans. During the hot summer months, in early times, the French played cards incessantly in the shade of the galleries of their houses. They frequently played without betting, but at times wagered heavily. The most common game of cards was called "loo." The voyageurs indulged in this sport more than any other class of citizens. The ladies often amused themselves at the game.


Horse racing was one of the most popular amusements. The quarter races were the most common, and at these the most chicanery aud juggling was practiced. The most celebrated and famous horse-race in Illinois, in early times, was run in the upper end of the Horse prairie, in Randolph county, in the spring of the year 1803. The two horses which made the race were of the same size. They ran three miles and repeat, for a wager of five hundred dollars. The bye-bets and all must have amounted to a thousand dollars,


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


or more, which in those days was considered a very large sum. In 1806 Robert Pulliam, of Illinois, and a Mr. Mu- sick, of Missouri, made a bet of two hundred dollars on a race between two horses, of a quarter of a mile, to be run on the ice in the Mississippi river, a short distance above St. Louis. The race came off, and was ran without injury to either the horses or riders. Foot-racing, jumping and wrestling were much practiced by the Americans. Bets of some magnitude were made on foot-races as well as horse- races. Governor Reynolds, in his youth, was one of the best in a foot-race, and won many wagers in Randolph county, then his residence.


With the Americans shooting-matches occurred frequently. These were generally held on Saturdays, and as often as every week, in summer. A beef was usually the prize. A keg of whiskey was generally carried to these shooting- matches, on horseback, and sometimes a violin made its appearance, and the crowd daneed for hours. Aged matrons frequently attended, with a neat, clean keg of metheglin, which they dispensed to the thirsty. This drink was made of honey and water, properly fermented, was pleasant to the taste, and had no power to intoxicate. The old lady some- times brought her knitting and sewing with her, and would frequently relate tales of the tories "back in North Caro- lina," during the Revolution.




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